News Archive

An archive of Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i news, events, and partnerships.

Archive of Press Releases

2023 News

  • December 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received kind gifts from Church of the Crossroads and Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai’i.
  • November 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received generous grants from the City and County of Honolulu Non-Profit Recovery Grant Program and the Hawai’i Community Foundation to support programs and operations. For news, information, and events, the Winter 2023 newsletter is now in mailboxes or read it online.
  • October 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i hosted the First Annual “Drive Fore Mental Health” Golf Tournament on October 27 at Ewa Beach Golf Club; received a wonderful grant from the HMSA Foundation; received generous donations from Foodland Give Aloha and Pearl City Community Church; and published “Creative Coping 2023,” a free anthology of poetry and art with guided exercises.
  • September 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a compassionate gift from Holy Nativity Church and generous grant from the Oahu Charity Walk and Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation, as well as an in-kind grant from ePromos for swag bags for our Golf Tournament; and presented a free poem-making workshop, “Creative Coping: SPACE” with Chaz Hill.
  • August 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a warm-hearted grant from Harris United Methodist Church, as well as an in-kind grant from 4imprint for polo shirts for our Golf Tournament; and presented a free self-care, resilience, and suicide awareness workshop, “Feeling Adrift: Using Self-Care and Building Safety for Wellness” with Dr. Mestisa Gass.
  • July 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received an amazing grant from the Women’s Fund of Hawai’i in support of the Client Assistance Fund for Women and Girls; and presented a free youth suicide prevention workshop, “A Hundred Million Reasons: Sources of Strength.” With the help of generous donors, we exceeded our fundraising goal during our 2023 Matching Gift Challenge!
  • June 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a generous donation from Waiokeola Congregational Church; and hosted a free mental health workshop, “Wahine Wellness: Creating Healthy Boundaries.”
  • May 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i hosted two free mental health workshops, “Wahine Wellness: Vision Boards” and “Wahine Wellness: Empowerment” and participated in the O’ahu Charity Walk to support mental health (15 walkers strong!).
  • April: 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received generous donations from the German Benevolent Society of Honolulu, Pearl City Community Church, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in Hawai’i.
  • March 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i participated in the Family Wellness Expo hosted by the Hawai’i Chapter of the Links Inc. and had a resource table at the NAMI Hawai’i State Conference.
  • February 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i announced the renaming of the Client Assistance Fund in honor of Rev. Gary C. Augustin. The Rev. Dr. Gary C. Augustin Client Assistance Fund will continue to offer subsidized mental health counseling for people in Hawai’i with limited financial resources. Read the press release. Read the announcement in MidWeek Hot Shots 2/15/23.
  • January 2023: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i welcomed Lisa Westly, LMHC/CSAC as a staff counselor; co-sponsored a Free and Delicious Food Event with Rebecca Woodland; received a grant from the Hawai’i Women’s Legal Foundation; and received gifts from the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai’i and First United Methodist Church.

2022 News

  • December 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i presents “Creative Coping 2022,” a free anthology of poetry and art with guided exercises; received a grant from the Serendipity II Fund at the Hawai’i Community Foundation in memory of Dr. Ralph Hook Jr.; and received generous donations from Church of the Crossroads, Nu’uanu Congregational Church, Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai’i, and the O’ahu Charity Walk in partnership with the Hawai’i Lodging and Tourism Association (HLTA).
  • November 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received donations from generous donors through Foodland Give Aloha; and a bonus boost from Foodland and Western Union.
  • October 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i presented a free workshop in the Wahine Wellness series, “Building and Nurturing Self-Esteem: The Beauty of Your Uniqueness” with Clara Priester, MDiv, Executive Director, Woman’s Board of Missions for the Pacific Islands on October 1; and co-presented an Embracing Hope event, “Talk Story: Hope for Youth” with Deborah Goebert, DrPH of the Prevent Suicide Hawai’i Task Force; Candice Biernesser, PhD, LCSW of the University of Pittsburgh; and Chad Starr, who lost his 12-year old daughter to suicide, on October 15.
  • September 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a beautiful gift from the Woman’s Board of Missions for the Pacific Islands; announced The Rev. Dr. George Clifford Pastoral Care Assistance Fund to subsidize mental health counseling to clergy and lay ministers; co-presented “Embracing Hope: Talk Story: Hope for Communities” about suicide prevention and hope on September 17; and participated in the AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk Resource Fair on September 10. The Center also co-presented an Embracing Hope event, “Talk Story: Hope for Communities” with Jeanelle Sugimoto-Matsuda, DrPH of the Prevent Suicide Hawai’i Task Force; Ernestine Enomoto, mindfulness practitioner and dharma teacher; and Chad Starr, who lost his 12-year old daughter to suicide, on September 17.
  • August 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a compassionate gift from the Church of the Holy Nativity; and presented a free workshop in the Creative Coping series: “Creative Coping: Odes” with ‘Ihilani Lasconia on August 6.
  • July 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received generous grants from the Women’s Fund of Hawai’i and the Atherton Family Foundation; presented a free workshop in the Creative Coping series: “Creative Coping: Drawing” with Nidhi Chabora and Nancy Jo Moses of Self Discovery Through Art on July 2; and presented a free workshop in the Wahine Wellness series: “Yoga: Feeling Safe in Body and Mind!” with Natasha Bailey of Power Yoga Hawai’i on July 25.
  • June 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a grant from the Friends of Hawai’i Charities and the Sony Open in Hawai’i; and presented a free workshop in the Creative coping series: “Creative Coping: Poetry” with Destiny Sharion, MSW and poet, on June 4.
  • May 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i welcomed Rev. Jeannie Thompson to the Board of Directors; and presented a free workshop in the Wahine Wellness series: “Wahine Wellness: Vision Boards!” with Diana Honeker, LMFT, Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i, on May 25.
  • April 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i welcomed Rev. Dr. Bert Sumikawa as the Interim President of the Board of Directors; and presented a free workshop in the Wahine Wellness series: “Wahine Wellness: Healthy Boundaries” with Kumi Macdonald, Executive Director, NAMI Hawai’i, on April 9.
  • March 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i welcomed Rev. Kimberley Houff to the Board of Directors; received generous donations from the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai’i and Harris United Methodist Church; and launched a mental health workshop series, Wahine Wellness, to empower and uplift women and girls.
  • February 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received generous donations from Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai’i and the Parish of St. Clement.
  • January 2022: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a compassionate bequest from the estate of Hermance Levesque. MidWeek Central O’ahu Voice published a photo from the blessing ceremony for Fr. Clarence “Larry” Fisher in November 2021.

2021 News

  • December 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a grant from the Serendipity II Fund of the Hawai’i Community Foundation in memory of Dr. Ralph Hook Jr.; and received donations from Harris United Methodist Church and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Honolulu. Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i welcomes Dr. Stephen Reynolds, PsyD as a staff counselor.
  • November 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i and Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Wahiawa honored Fr. Clarence “Larry” Fisher with a bench and plaque on November 21; watch the blessing ceremony at https://youtu.be/8lqUhlB6d6Y. The Center received a donation from Nu’uanu Congregational Church and a grant from the Oahu Visitor Industry Charity Walk. The Center presented a webinar with Dr. Darcy Ing, PsyD, “Coping with Holiday Stress” and was also mentioned in Hawaii Business Magazine, in an article titled “Thinking about Death Should Be Part of Your Life” at https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/planning-for-death-advance-directives-hospice-funeral-decisions.
  • October 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a generous grant from Walmart to refresh and rejuvenate the Center’s counseling office at Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin Hawai’i; and co-presented a free mental health community webinar with NAMI Hawaii “Creative Coping: Identity Poetry” with poet Destiny Sharion, MSW. The Center also received a donations from Foodland Give Aloha and a bonus “boost” from Foodland and Western Union.
  • September 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a grant from the Sidney Stern Memorial Trust and a generous gift from the Woman’s Board of Missions for the Pacific Islands.
  • August 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received TWO generous grants from the Women’s Fund of Hawai’i from their Spring Grants Program and their COVID-19 Relief, Recovery, and Reimagining Fund; and a photo of the Macy’s Beautification Project was featured in MidWeek Hot Shots on August 25, 2021 (see the photo here).
  • July 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was featured in “The Temple Emanu-El Connection” July 2021 newsletter; welcomed staff counselor Harvey Leighnor, LCSW; and co-presented a free mental health community webinar with NAMI Hawaii “Creative Coping: Poetry” with poet Destiny Sharion, MSW.
  • June 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received generous grants to the Client Assistance Fund from the Cooke Foundation and the Atherton Family Foundation; presented “A Hundred Million Reasons: A Suicide Prevention and Resilience Workshop”; was nominated by NAMI Hawaii and selected by Macy’s Ala Moana for office renovations to create a welcoming, serene space for frontline mental health counselors and clients, with a special ribbon-cutting and blessing on June 15; and welcomed staff counselor S. Jesse Kastilic, LMHC and Play Therapist.
  • May 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i announced a free virtual workshop, “A Hundred Million Reasons: A Suicide Prevention and Resilience Workshop,” June 11-12, 2021, in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu Grant-in-Aid program and the Prevent Suicide Hawai’i Task Force (read the press release here); received a generous donation from Church of the Holy Nativity to the Client Assistance Fund; and was mentioned in a May 2021 article in Honolulu Magazine, “Can We Talk?” by Robbie Dingeman (read the article here).
  • April 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i announced a new mental health counseling office in Kaneohe to serve Windward residents, in partnership with Calvary Episcopal Church (read the press release here); received a generous grant from the Friends of Hawai’i Charities and the Sony Open in Hawai’i; and was featured on the Generations Radio Podcast with Percy Ihara on April 18, 2021 to talk about the Center, mental health, and aging (listen here).
  • March 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i partnered with the Hawai’i State Commission on the Status of Women to launch the Here for Her pilot project that will offer free therapy to single mothers to cope with the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and systemic sexism, racism and class oppression (read the press release here); received compassionate gifts from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in Hawai’i and Waiokeola Congregationial Church; received generous grants from the German Benevolent Society of Honolulu and Harris United Methodist Church; and welcomed staff counselors Erin Castillo, LCSW and Cory Komatsu, LMHC.
  • February 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was featured in the February 19, 2021 issue of The Hawaii Herald, in an article “Hawaii’s Mental Health Advocates” by Ida Yoshinaga (pages 7-9).
  • January 2021: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a generous gift from the Church of the Crossroads; was featured in the February/March 2021 issue of Generations Magazine, in an article “The Power of Healing, Harmony, and Hope”; and welcomed office assistant Lori-Anne Besignano.

2020 News

  • December 2020: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a compassionate gift from the Church of the Holy Nativity; and grants from the Chamber of Commerce Hawai’i Business Pivot and the City and County of Honolulu Small Business Relief and Recovery Funds (SBRRF) that help relieve the impact of COVID-19.
  • November 2020: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received generous gifts from Foodland and Western Union during Foodland Give Aloha; and Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai’i; and welcomed Dr. Sheree Gates to the Board of Directors.
  • October 2020: Thank you for supporting mental health and healing, and helping us celebrate leadership and compassion in Hawaii, at the virtual Ho’omenemene Awards! Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i moderated a panel discussion at the Hawai’i Book and Music Festival and made a presentation at YP Community Connect with the Young Professionals of the Chamber of Commerce Hawai’i.
  • September 2020: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i welcomed Chandra Davis to the Board of Directors.
  • August 2020: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a compassionate gift from the Woman’s Board of Missions for the Pacific Islands and Awesome Foundation O’ahu. We welcomed Michelle Kama to the Board of Directors. We presented a free webinar “Domestic Violence: Unpacking the Impact” with Marci Lopes of the Domestic Violence Action Center.
  • July 2020: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a generous grant from the Women’s Fund of Hawai’i for the Client Assistance Fund for Women and Girls; and was awarded a Grant-in-Aid for 2021 by the City and County of Honolulu for a mental health workshop. We welcomed Dr. AnneMarie Gumataotao to the Board of Directors.
  • June 2020: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a kind donation from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and a generous grant from the Sidney Stern Memorial Trust.
  • May 2020: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received generous grants from Friends of Hawaii Charities and Pearl City Community Church; donations from Nu’uanu Congregational Church and Waiokeola Congregational Church; and presented a free mental health workshop, “Stress Management for Adults and Teens.”The Center also contributed a Proof Positive article, “Advocating for Mental Health” (MidWeek, May 20, 2020). Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai’i recognized Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i in a Tribute to “Health Care Treasurers” and Essential Workers on May 6, 2020.
  • April 2020: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a generous donation from the German Benevolent Society of Honolulu; presented two free mental health workshops, “Coping with Stress During a Pandemic” and “Creatively Coping Through Crisis“; and was featured in the article “Helping Others Navigate Life’s Storms” by Jackie M. Young (Hawaii Business, April 2020) and a virtual interview in the “Challenges Facing Nonprofits” series (Hawaii Business, April 22, 2020).
  • March 2020: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i presented a free community workshop on “Healthy Relationships” at First United Methodist Church.
  • February 2020: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received funding from the City and County of Honolulu to present 10 free mental health workshops across O’ahu.
  • January 2020: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received a grant to the Client Assistance Fund from the Atherton Family Foundation and a donation from St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church.

2019 News

  • December 2019: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i received donations from Church of the Crossroads, Church of the Holy Nativity, and Temple Emanu-El.
  • November 2019: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored with a generous gift from Foodland Give Aloha donors and a community matching gift from  Foodland and Western Union; and was awarded a FLEX Grant from Hawaii Community Foundation.
  • October 2019: Awarded Full Accreditation from the Solihten Institute, a national and independent review board, from June 2019 through June 2023. Celebrated 30 years of service and appreciation for donors, partners, and volunteers at the Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii Mahalo Reception; and co-presented “Soul Shop: Ministering to Suicidal Desperation,” a 1.5 day workshop led by Soul Shop Director Michelle Snyder, LCSW, M.Div. Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored with a generous gift from the Woman’s Board of Missions for the Pacific Islands; and was featured in a KITV News report (10/19/19) about Soul Shop Hawai’i 2019.
  • September 2019: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i participated with resource tables at the Joint Services Suicide Prevention Proclamation Ceremony and the Out of the Darkness Walk with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Hawaii; and was honored with a generous grant to Soul Shop Hawai’i 2019 from Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai’i.
  • August 2019: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored with a generous grant to the Client Assistance Fund from the Visitor Industry Charity Walk (Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation) and agift from The Parish of St. Clement; and with a generous grant to Soul Shop Hawai’i 2019 from The Interfaith Alliance Hawai’i.
  • July 2019: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored with a generous donation from Nuuanu Congregational Church. We were featured in a guest column in MidWeek’s Proof Positive (7/17/19) and a photo from our Honolulu Proclamation Ceremony was shared in MidWeek’s Hot Shots (7/31/19).
  • June 2019: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored with generous contributions from Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai’i, The Episcopal Church in Hawai’i, The Church of the Holy Nativity, and Pacific Health Ministry; and a grant to the Client Assistance Fund from Harris United Methodist Church. We welcomed four new board members: Linda Rose Herman, David Rich, Veronica Rich, and Rev. Bert Sumikawa.
  • May 2019: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored with a capacity building grant from Hawai’i Community Foundation and a grant to the Client Assistance Fund from the Friends of Hawai’i Charities and the Sony Open in Hawai’i; and participated in the Oahu Charity Walk on May 18. We welcomed Lunden Head, our part-time healthcare administrative assistant.
  • April 2019: City and County of Honolulu Proclaims April 10, 2019 as Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i Day. Read the proclamation. Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored with a gift from Waiokeola Congregational Church. Participated in the Prevent Suicide Hawai’i Statewide Conference. We welcomed Kapono Faitau, a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, to the Board of Directors.
  • March 2019: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored with a grant from the German Benevolent Society of Honolulu.
  • February 2019: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i participated in Mental Heath Awareness Day 2019 at the State Capitol on February 14, hosted by Mental Health America of Hawai’i. We welcomed King Watson, a student at Hawaii Medical College, as a volunteer healthcare administrative intern.
  • January 2019: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored to receive donations from the Marion Carpenter Trust, Walton Carpenter Trust, and Boller-Thomas Foundation.

2018 News

  • December 2018: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored to receive a donation from Church of the Crossroads.
  • November 2018: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored to receive a donation from the Woman’s Board of Missions for the Pacific Islands and an anonymous donation through Schwab Charitable.
  • November 2018: We welcomed Fr. Ajith Kumar Antony Dass, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, to the Board of Directors.
  • October 2018:We presented two free community workshops at Pearl City Community Church. On Monday, October 15, 9:30 am to 11:30 pm, participants learned how to strengthen relationships with Active Listening and the Five Love Languages. On Wednesday, October 17, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, participants learned how to distinguish between depression and sadness and the grieving process.
  • October 2018: We welcomed Martine Leclerc, EGG technician observer, to the Board of Directors; and Jessica Richey as our part-time healthcare administrative assistant.
  • September 2018: We welcomed our newest counselors, Marcia Myers, LMHC and Daniel Ruseborn, LMFT. Through the generosity of Production Hawaii, we reached out to seniors and caregivers at the Hawai’i Seniors’ Fair — The Good Life Expo, September 21-23. at Neal Blaisdell Center, booth #104. Attendees learned about mental health counseling and resources.
  • August 2018: We welcomed Stasia Dyke, a student at Hawaii Medical College, as a volunteer healthcare administrative intern.
  • July 2018: We welcomed Rev. Dr. Robert E. Steele to the Board of Directors.
  • July 2018: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored to receive donation from the Lloyd Moore Foundation.
  • June 2018: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored to receive donations from the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii, Nu’uanu Congregational Church, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet; and grants from Harris United Methodist Church and Atherton Family Foundation.
  • May 2018: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii was honored to receive a grant from the Friends of Hawai’i Charities and a donation from the Hawai’i Conference – United Church of Christ. We welcomed Maria Carnevale, co-manager of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument to the Board of Directors; and Brittney Henley, a student at Hawaii Medical College, as a volunteer healthcare administrative intern.
  • April 2018: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored to received donations from BDK Hawaii and the German Benevolent Society of Honolulu. We welcomed our new therapist, Wesley Taira, LCSW.
  • March 2018: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i announced the recipients of the 2018 Ho’omenemene Awards: Father Larry Fisher and Lili’uokalani Trust and received a donation from Waiokeola Congregational Church.
  • February 2018: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was awarded a 2018 Safety Net Grant from Aloha United Way. Read the press release.
  • January 2018: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored to receive a donation from the Woman’s Board of Missions for the Pacific Islands.

2017 News

  • December 2017: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored to receive grants from Aloha United Way and Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai’i. The grants will replenish our Client Assistance Fund, which subsidizes counseling for uninsured, under-insured, low-income, and elderly clients. We appreciate their confidence and trust in our mission.
  • December 2017: We welcomed our newest therapist, Diana B. Honeker, LMFT.
  • November 2017: Chaz Hill and Friends hosted “AN” concert for peace, 8 pm at the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral, a fundraiser for Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i.
  • August 2017: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i earned a Gold Seal of Transparency on our GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. GuideStar is the largest source of information on nonprofit organizations.
  • August 2017: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i announced home visits for seniors and caregivers in the Honolulu area. Learn more at our booth at the Seniors’ Fair — The Good Life Expo, September 22-24, 2017.
  • July 2017: We welcomed Rev. George Clifford and Nicholas Muneno to the board of directors.
  • June 2017: We welcomed our newest therapist, Julie A. Daubenspeck, LMFT. Julie is a Christian counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist who works with individuals, couples, families, military families, and children. She specializes in women’s issues and domestic violence. She uses Experiential Family Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and other theories based on client needs.
  • May 2017: Samaritan Counseling Center Hawai’i was honored to receive two grants, from the Friends of Hawai’i Charities and First Hawaiian Bank Foundation. The grants will replenish our Client Assistance Fund, which subsidizes counseling for uninsured, under-insured, low-income, and elderly clients who otherwise might not receive any mental health care.